The New York Times says GOP leaders in the House, including Majority Leader Eric Cantor and six committee chairs, face Tea Party challengers in the primary elections. Agriculture Committee chairman Frank Lucas, who just brought the farm bill to reality, is among those with a challenger. Cantor spearheaded the unsuccessful drive by Republican conservatives to cut food stamps by $39 bln over 10 years.
“Primary campaigns against party leaders are often more of a nuisance than a serious threat, token challenges waged by local gadflies. But what is startling to Republicans this year is the sheer number of candidates who are willing to take on the party’s most powerful players in Washington, and the backing they are receiving from third-party groups,” says the Times story by Jeremy Peters.
At Slate, David Weigel says, “Spoiler: These challengers aren’t going to win. And the hopelessness of their challenges is a source of some division in the Tea Party movement, on the organizing side.” He says Lucas’ challenger, rancher and Canadian County GOP chair Robert Hubbard, “hasn’t reported any money raised yet.”